1. Today (Monday, July 6th) an article in the “The Star” under the headlines “DAP under extreme pressure” on page N19 written by Baradan Kuppusamy (BK) attracted my attention. The half a page article is basically an empty articulation of Mr. BK where he was trying to link the Shah Alam Seri Mariaman temple demolition with Kg Buah Pala, the politics and so called lack of compassion by the Penang Government. Indirectly BK is making this into a racial and political issue which is actually not the case. That is I why I said that it was an empty articulation.
2. BK in his writing ruminates along the line of compassion, politics and trying to imply that if the state government does not have compassion in dealing with the Kg Buah Pala residents. What BK has failed to do is to put forward a workable solution to all the stake holders. It has also failed to highlight explicitly on what he expect the State Government to do.
3. From what he wrote in between the lines, it appears that BK expects the state government to acquire the land and give it to the 26 families. I am not sure what is actual value of the land but personally if the state government can buy back the land at the price it was sold, I suppose the State Government can close one eye and create precedence by buying such property and give it to the 26 families. Personally I do not support on this close one eye action. Setting precedence has its implications. Among others it would mean that in the future, any squatters can put forward such a request and government will be trapped again.
4. I feel BK has not been fair in his writing. We need to look at the issues from the legal and government position. In this aspect, the State Government has done something. Though the action of the previous state government may appear legal but it may not pass the moral judgment. Whether there are any illegal activities involved in the transfer of the “state land” it is something that must be reviewed. This must not be taken as part of the solution for the 26 families.
5. Certainly, the residents bear the equal share of the responsibility for not providing prove of ownership of the said land. The story that it was left behind by the Brown family more than 150 years ago for the estate workers is not supported by any document. There were claims that it was in the form of a trust. Where is the said trust documentation? How many of the family today are actually the descendent of the people who lived there 150 years ago? People can say anything they like but if it is not substantiate with facts, then it does not stand.
6. Personally as an outsider looking in, the 26 families do not own any of the land. They are squatters. It was reported that they have been offered compensation in the amount of RM200K per family. To me this is very huge amount. Squatters in KL and Selangor also do not get that much. Some gets kick out of their homes as it is.
7. If really anything significant can be done is the first is to untangle this matter with politics and racial issues. This is a real estate issue. Nothing more to that. The state government can show compassion by being neutral party in coming to assist the 26 families in finding a win win situation for everyone.
8. In my previous writing, I had mentioned that it is important that all parties sits together and sort out the solution. All parties must agree with facts. The most important fact is that the land does not belong to the developer but it belongs to the cooperatives. Relocation to another area would be the best solution. The compensation offered by the developer would be useful in buying another property. Collectively, the 26 families has been offered RM 5.2 mill. That is a good sum of money that they can use to rebuild their life on a new “High Chaparral” which they will be registered as their own.
9. All that is required is some cool heads to sit down and mediate this issue. Personally, if all parties cannot find a good middle man, I am willing to offer my time (FOC) to seek a solution for all parties. Maybe Mr. Baradan can also offer his time in the name of compassion.
Related Reading
a. Kg Buah pala- Why barking at the wrong tree
b. Kg Buah Pala II-Look for solutions
Click Here if the video below do not work: They dont really care about us- Michael Jackson
To my mind, Baradan Kuppusamy has voiced the opinion of many right thingking Indians in this country. He speakes without fear or favour. But Dr Rafick’s comment are not fair. It looks like he is asked by LGE to write in favour of PKR government.
As far as the Indiands believe, Kg.Buah Bala is a heritage to show our future generations that Indian have lived in this part of the country 200 years ago.So, no monetary value for this piece of land.It should be saved and guarded forever.
AS i see, DAP is more interested in fighting for Kg.China cemetry in Malacca, an illegal pig abattoir in Kedah , chinese education and so on ,but all for chinese interest. DAP is concerned and care for Indians only to get votes to win elections. Hence, Indians from now on must be aware of DAP tactics . The Indian leaders around LGE should think of Indian interest more than their positions in government. The position they held in government is to help another Indian who deserve to be helped . They are there not to take order from DAP leaders but to safeduard Indian interest. Otherwise there is no difference between BN dan PKR.
I hope Prof.Dr.Ramasamy, Timbalan Ketua Menteri , a man of knowledge and wisdom, whom I knew for a long time, who have spent half of his lifetime working for the depressed Indians interest , will come forward bravely to safeguard the Indians interest and help the Kg.Buah Pala residents.
Baradan also writes for the Star and is very pro-Indian and Hindus. so, don’t be surprised his slant is like that. land is scarce in pg, so, it is big issue. check how developer bought the land – who gave approval to redevelop land? verify villagers’ claim. Sometimes being resident for many years does give one rights over the land bcos the law does side on the squatter. here in msia however, the law sides on where the money is. Hence, DAP is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. They should just be transparent and get legal advice. Lots of smart lawyers in Pg. Just that everyone has a vested interest in the outcome of the case!
Very nice site! Keep up the good work.
IT IS SAID: “IF THE GOVERNMENT DID REALLY CARED FOR THE “RAKYAT” NO MATTER WHAT COLOR OR RACE OR RELIGION”
THIS COUNTRY WITH ITS IMMENSE WEALTH OF HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF PETROL DOLLARS ( YES USD ) WE WOULD HAVE BUILT LOW COST HOUSES FROM DAY ONE AND NOBODY WILL BE WITHOUT A SIMPLE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS IN MALAYSIA! ZERO SQUARTERS BY NOW!
TENGKU RAZALEIGH SAID: ” IF I BECOME THE NEXT PM, NOBODY IN THIS COUNTRY NEED TO PAY TAXES”!
YES HE DID SAY THAT WHEN HE CHALLENGED THE MAMAK FOR UMNO PRESIDENCY, HE WAS THE FINANCE MINISTER BACK THEN!
HE KNEW HOW MUCH MONEY THIS COUNTRY HAD AT THAT TIME, WE WERE BLOODY RICH !
THAT’S WHY MAMAK COULD NOT AFFORD TO LOOSE !
HE WANTED THE PIGGY BANK FOR HIMSELF, AND OFF COURSE HIS FRIENDS GAINED FROM IT! ALL THOSE ULTRA RICH MELAYU’s TODAY PICK IT CLEAN!
THE BILLIONS WASTED ON STUPID PROJECTS!
ALL RAKYAT’s MONEY – COULD HAVE BUILT MORE HOSPITALS, MORE SCHOOLS, MORE HOUSES, TOLL FREE ROADS, BETTER FACILITIES!
NO NEED TO HAVE TWO SESSION SCHOOLING TILL NOW! ONLY THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES HAVE TWO SESSION SCHOOLING!
INSTEAD MEGA PROJECTS TO BENEFIT ALL THE BLOODY CORRUPTED CRONIES IN UMNO, MIC, MCA & GERAKAN!
SHAME ON THE BLOODY BN & UMNO BLOOD SUCKERS! BIGGEST ROBBERS !
KICK OUT THESE POOR SQUARTERS AND THEY WILL CURSE YOU FOREVER!
Drraffick,
I have mentioned earlier in your column regarding this issue. I wish to state again, outsiders should STAY OUT, including the HINDRAF from this issue. Anyway, I thought this organization was banned by the BN Govt, so how come there are still the leaders of Hindraf shouting and giving the poor LGE ultimatums. If its a banned organization then how come the PDRM and the relevant authorities are not reacting. Oh, I guess, it’s because they are fighting against the opposition. Please, enough is enough, I call all to stop making this an racial issue. I don’t understand, what the Indians want. In a moment they want to be known as Malaysians and the next instance they talk about saving Indian heritage village, High Chaparral etc. What’s so great about the Indian village in Penang, please go to any state, you can see many Indians villages which truly represent Indian heritage. Good example is Buntong, Perak. Wht’s the big deal. It’s plain and simple, if you guys don’t get, it’s all about MONEY. Everyone knows the market price of this land, so it’s fighting for money. That’s all.
I call upon the state Govt not to let the interest of the majority in Penang down by safeguarding the 26 families. I am not prepared to pay extra cent for new taxes just in case the Govt has got to fork out millions or hundred of millions as compensation to the parties concerned. There is plenty of land the govt can compensate that will help these families make their new High Chaparral. As for BK, I am sure he is one of the many mercenary writers that are writing shit for the ruling elite. So Stop playing racial politics BK. Be ashamed of yourself. As for, Dato Sri Najid. Where is your 1MALAYSIA Dato Seri. You should be responding positively to the state govt’s call because the mess was created by your company in Penang led by KOHTSUKOON.
No need to do anything. After one month grace period, bulldozers will move in. Police will arrest the protesting villagers. In another one month time everything forgotten. Project will be completed on schedule. New buyers will move into their new condos. Haven’t we heard this sequence before?
BK and Dr.Rafick argue on the issue of kg.Buah Pala without concrite facts on this problem.Residents of the kg claim they were paying land tax for years and they were on a lease hold land and i guess state goverment can verify this matter. What is more important it is time for state goverment to clarify the claims made by the rewsidents. we cannot depent on the judiciary bacause it pro developer and it is least interested in veryfying the claims made by the resedents. The civil servents in penang they are no better than the judiciary since thei member have big stake in the tussle for the kampong. The way to solve the problem is to trace back how the former sate goverment trnsfer the kg to Koperasi pegawai-pegawai kerjaan PULAU PINANG eventhough there are so called rightful residents in the kg. If the kg transfered to the koperasi in an illegal means ,then the present state goverment must look in to it to rectify the mistake,including revoking the transfer of ownership to the koperasi may be by refering it back to the court.It is the duty of the resident now to prove that theie land was a lease hold land and they were the rightful owener of it.If it is true that the kg folks were the righrful owner of the place then something seriously went wrong somewhere in the former state goverment where it has done a ” ROBIN HOOD ALA MALAYSIA ” (Robbing the poor to give to the powerful dan politically active actors).I hope i am wrong with my assumption.We can view out our opinion with assumption only because facts related to this issue are protected for political interst of those active players,including peang civil servents. What is more sad is the sio called intelectual attitude in keeping their tails in between thei legs!,including DR KOH TZU KOON.It is obvous they want to make some political gain by manupulating this murky issue.
These people (squatters) should be smart to accept what the developer is giving them. The problem was created by bn and dap has to carry the baby. I just wonder how many more of these problems exist in penang all done by bn and gerakan
Kohtk refused to accept responsibility for this fiasco.
The federal government is not getting involve.
Hindraf and all the very aggressive variant are unreasonable and uncompromising.
The villagers are at their wits end while those that shouted the loudest, supposedly on their behalf, offered nothing more than hot air.
Every solution if accepted by all parties have consequences.
What are the facts,what are the areas where compromise could be achieved, who can compromise and what compensation could be offered for those making the compromise ? I believe the solution lies in having answeres to these questions.
One proposal for consideration. Could the state government offer another piece of land of similar stature in the vicinity of kampung buah pala to the government coop ? Remember that the land belong to the government cooperative.
RM200,000 might have been offered before the Federal Court ruling.
The villagers were victorious in an earlier High Court judgment.
Today, with the federal court judgment on their side, I doubt if that RM200,000 offer still stands.
I think they are asking too muchlah. There’s no legal proof. LGE can’t simply tukar everything. people’s suggestions as to take the money, get your OWN land, build on it etc. all rejected. imagine how much it will cripple the state govt.
Jelak. It shouldnt be about one race over another, it should be how overal it wld benefit those in the state.
There’s no check/balance, no real repurcussions for the previous govt. Bloody cop out. Sorry to swear, all of them already make me sick.
Even some of the PKR etc bunch, biarlah. When they were first offered compensation they should have done something. They screwed up. They don’t own the land, they werent even renting the land etc. For Free! lagi dapan RM200k at least. cis!
This guy Baradan Kuppusamy is a BN shill per se…
His writing in Malaysian Insider also echo the same tune.